Fish Lake Elk - Help

[O_S_O_K]

Ok, here is the scoop. I was planning on helping out a friend this year for his Elk tag he drew from the expo. He put in for his first time and was lucky enough to draw the Fish Lake archery tag.

I went and got lucky myself and drew the Dutton rifle tag (didn't think I would with only 6 points) and will be helping my brother-in-law and nephew with their Dutton archery tags.

We have never hunted the Dutton so we have been spending our time getting to know that unit.

Because of this I have not been able to assist him as originally planned.

He has reviewed maps, flown the unit (has access to a friend that is a pilot), been down on the unit 5 times and has looked in the areas that appear to be good to hold Elk. He has not seen any Elk and he hasn't even seen any good sign.

Granted, he is very new to Elk hunting so he doesn't really know where to be looking but he has checked areas that we thought looked good on the maps.

Long story short - He really wanted to do this without any help but it's getting down to crunch time and he is now conceeding his concerns.

I figured I would put a line out there to anyone that may be willing to put him in the right area to continue looking.

Thanks for any input and/or help you may be able and willing to provide.


"The problem with quotes on Internet Forums is that it is often difficult to verify their authenticity." - Abraham Lincoln

 

[BIGJOHNT]

If you look hard enough and early enough . There are elk everywhere. I found elk in every canyon i looked on sunday morning before coming home. Just tell him to get up early get to a glassing spot before the sun comes up. The higher the better to see more country.

 

[GLEDEASY]

To not be seeing any elk surprises me.

 

[bowhunt3r4l1f3]

What areas has he looked?

 

[1203sales]

Tell Him to go look above the Johnson Ranch, Im pretty familiar with the area and will be down there from 28th till the 8th, PM me if you want any more info.

 

[sled_guy]

He needs to be out of bed before light.

Go high... as high as he can get. With this heat the elk have all been really high to get some cool air and away from the bugs. Then once the sun is up they go into the dark timber and you don't see them again until maybe right before dark.

sled_guy

 

[O_S_O_K]

Thanks Bigjohnt, Gleadeasy, 1203sales and Sled Guy,

I appreciate your constructive comments.

I talked more with him and realized he hasn't been down nearly as often as I thought he had. Other than flying the unit he has only been on the ground 2 weekends.

I also learned that he has not been getting out early enough or high enough.

Like I said, rookie Elk Hunter with no one to really help him so this will be a tough one for him.

Any locations or areas to focus on are helpfull.

If they are all over the unit then so be it but most units I have hunted tend to have areas the elk like more than others.

He is going down this weekend so we will see if he can get out of bed early enough this time

Gleadeasy and 1203sales, PM sent - Thanks


"The problem with quotes on Internet Forums is that it is often difficult to verify their authenticity." - Abraham Lincoln

 

[elkhtr00]

PM Sent

 

[BIGJOHNT]

LAST EDITED ON Aug-08-12 AT 05:05PM (MST)[p]I have been up there every two weeks for the past few months. I have seen several people scouting and had a few planes over my head usualy in the afternoon tho.We hunted the archery hunt last year. It can be a tough hunt if you are picky. Like my son was.
I have been asked for help by alot of people this year. But with work and family its hard to commit.I am a full time father and self imployed. But if he needs help and we are up there we can point him in the right direction .
What is he looking for ?